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TaylorMade Tour Response Review – Worth The Price?

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini's father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years. Current Handicap: 8

View all posts by Matt Stevens

In my honest review of the TaylorMade Tour Response golf balls, I’ll share why these affordable, urethane golf balls suit mid-handicappers.

In my experience, the Tour Responses borrow multiple features from the famed TP5 and TP5x . However, they’re a better fit for moderate swing speeds.

After reading my feedback, you’ll know if upgrading to the all-around Tour Response is beneficial for your game. The fast-rebounding, high-spinning golf ball is attractive to most golfers, and this post reveals whether they’re worth spending your hard-earned money on.

Why listen to us? Our team has tested dozens and dozens of the top balls on the market (you can read in-depth review of each here ). We keep detailed notes and findings about each one to come up with our recommendations for you.

Overall Rating and Thoughts

After completing my review of the TaylorMade Tour Response, I’m in awe of these golf balls. It’s not often that a moderate swing speed player like myself can enjoy the luxuries of consistently launching a multi-layer urethane golf ball.

I enjoyed its low long-game spin and rapid ball speed, combined with aerodynamic dimples to enhance carry and total distance. It further impressed me around the green when its Soft Tough Urethane cover bit into my grooves and produced sublime spin for greater short-game control.

Despite the positives, I’ll acknowledge that the Tour Response golf balls are pricey relative to other mid-range balls. However, compared to urethane-covered products like the Pro V1 and TaylorMade TP5, it’s affordable and worth the price if you desire long-game distance and short-game spin.

Overall Score: 8.8/10

Three-Piece Ball

TaylorMade compiled 3 layers to craft the Tour Response for optimal long-game distance without impacting greenside spin. I found the  Ultra Low Compression core did a wealth of heavy lifting to maximize rebound and ball speed while minimizing driver spin.

The second layer is a High Flex Material Speed Mantle. It enhances energy transfer off the clubface on high-impact strikes, accelerating ball speed and containing spin for a powerful launch. A Soft Tough Urethane cover completes the design, promoting enhanced feel, control, and spin around the green.

Ultra Low Compression Hi-Spring Core

My moderate swing speed enjoyed every strike on the Tour Response, owing to its Hi-Spring Core. It boosted my energy transfer on long shots, causing the ball to rebound rapidly off the clubface with limited spin and optimal velocity for a high-launching shot.

I felt it provided that extra bit of speed needed to increase my yardage from the tee box. This a trait most medium swing speed mid-handicappers will appreciate.

Speedmantle High Flex Material (HFM)

The HFM Speed Mantle is a firm structure inserted between the core and the Soft Tough Urethane cover. I found the Speedmantle delivers superior energy transfer on high-impact strikes thanks to its high-flex material. It aided the core in preserving ball speed and restricting spin revolutions for increased distance.

Soft Tough Urethane

I’m always a sucker for a urethane cover, purely for the spin they afford me with my wedges. The downside is their durability, or lack thereof, after a few trips to the bunker. I noticed the firmer urethane cover held well for longer compared to my experience with cast urethane covers.

Durability aside, the cover bit into my wedge grooves and delivered an outstanding spin rate to give me desirable bite around the greens. Although my mid and long iron spin rate was lower than usual, the softer cover propelled my ball to land rapidly on approach.

Tour Flight Dimple Pattern

TaylorMade applied the dimple design from the TP5 to the Tour Response for exceptional aerodynamics on take-off and landing. The Tour Flight Dimple pattern features flat, shallow dimples, which boost airflow, restrict drag, and enhance lift for greater carry distance.

The ball landed softly on approach, raising its shot-stopping profile thanks to its lift enhancement.

A core feature of the Soft Response balls is the Stripe range, built to elevate your alignment off the tee and on the dancefloor. The standard option in the Soft Response range has a lime stripe running around the ball’s perimeter, and a Blue Pink design is ideal for trendsetters.

Traditionalists aren’t forgotten. TaylorMade finished the Tour Response balls in a traditional white coat and a Hi-Visibility yellow. The latter is the easiest of all finishes to follow in the air and locate in the thick rough.

Performance

The Tour Response range aren’t the cheapest golf balls on the market, which is what would stop me from playing them. For context, they’re listed as $7 lower than the recommended retail price of a dozen TP5 balls.

Although I recognize the Tour Response’s affordability compared to other urethane golf balls, they’re pricey for the average golfer. I paid $14 more for a box of Tour Responses compared to the TaylorMade Soft Response balls .

I relished the feel of the Tour Response on all shots, but their softness particularly shone through with my irons, wedges, and putter. The impact was smooth, and the soft ball improved my feedback to identify precisely where the clubface struck the ball on approach and around the green.

The combination of a moderate compression and a Soft Tough Urethane cover were directly responsible for the welcome feel.

In my experience, the Tour Response produced clicky acoustics off the putter face and on wedge shots. This didn’t impact the overall performance of the ball. However, I prefer playing a ball with solid acoustics. It boils down to my preference, and the Tour Response didn’t match it.

Compression

My moderate swing speed thrived on long shots with the highly compressible core. The medium compression delivered superb spring off my metal woods and long irons, accelerating ball speed and reducing spin. The result was a consistent driver, fairway woods, and long iron distance.

Despite my successes with the Tour Response, I feel slower swing speeds may still struggle to generate maximum contact with the ball. Instead, I’d be more comfortable with you using the softer, easier, and more strikable Soft Response golf balls.

My ability to induce optimal energy transfer on long shots was rewarded with lower spin levels than my standard results. Although marginally less, I produced 2325 rpm of driver backspin, only 175 rpm lower than my average.

The reduced backspin helped me preserve ball acceleration for a powerful launch, consistent flight, and carry distance. Furthermore, I noticed the lower spin encouraged increased roll upon landing, giving me an extra 10 yards off the tee.

The low-spinning nature of the Tour Response golf balls continued to show as I tested my mid and long irons. For context, my 7-iron metrics showed me producing 80 rpm less than my average, which honestly led to minimal difference in my launch, spin, and distance.

Although I produced less backspin than usual, I found my ball biting rapidly on approach, exhibiting its shot-stopping power.

The wedge spin on the TaylorMade Tour Response is its best asset in my eyes. It’s more affordable than a TP5 but returned an outstanding spin rate on full wedge strikes, chips, flops, and bunker shots.

I notched up 10540 rpm backspin on my full wedge shots, 400 more than I produced with the Soft Response range.

The Soft Tough Urethane gripped into my wedge grooves, elevating friction and allowing me to impart enhanced spin revolutions onto the ball. I found it particularly easy to control on chip, pitch, and flop shots as it afforded me the chance to attack the flag and stop the ball dead near my target.

I was seriously impressed with my driver ball speed, producing 141.8 mph, over 4 mph more than I achieved with the TP5. The highly compressible core and Speedmantle layer exploded my ball off the clubface with limited spin to generate a soaring, powerful launch and ample carry distance.

My rapid ball speed continued into the irons. I clocked 117 mph on 7-iron shots, 1 mph faster than my average. The 117 mph speed also proved four mph faster than my returns with the Soft Response. I enjoyed outstanding carry distance on approach owing to the rapid velocity and lower spin.

I welcomed my distance results off the tee. My optimal distance is owed to the enhanced energy transfer at impact from the compressible core and highly flexible Speedmantle. The ball exploded off the clubface, leading to a lofted launch and satisfactory carry distance.

My ball flew for an average of 267 yards before hitting the deck and rolling a further 10 yards to give me a total of 276 yards. This meant I outdrove the TP5 by an average of 2 yards.

The shot-stopping power of the Tour Response saw my ball lose roll on approach. However, it helped me hold tight greens. I propelled my ball 148 yards in the air, and it only rolled out a further 2 yards after hitting the green. My 150-yard total distance was marginally lengthier than my average, showcasing the consistency of my results.

I appreciated its ability to stop rapidly on approach because it boosted my control and left me within earshot of my target.

A lower spin rate and explosive ball speed collaborated to send my metal woods and iron shots high and long. I felt the ball was a breeze to launch with my moderate swing speed, and there was never doubt over me getting my ball airborne.

I noticed the aerodynamic dimples elevated the ball into the heavens and extended its flight thanks to its lift-efficient design. The consequence of higher flight on my iron shots was rapid bite on the green. However, I still enjoyed adequate roll on tee shots with an average of 10 yards.

What I Like About The TaylorMade Tour Response

Compressible.

I enjoyed the elevated compressibility of the Tour Response, prompting ball acceleration, lower spin, and a high launch. The Hi-Spring core was incredibly responsive off the clubface on metal woods, hybrid, and long iron shots.

Although suited to my medium swing speed, slower swing speed golfers will likely produce better results with the lower compression Soft Response.

Low Driver Spin

I appreciated the Tour Response’s ability to contain driver spin to preserve ball speed. The outcome was a towering launch, prompting ample carry and roll upon landing for an impressive total distance average.

The increased spin delivered by the Tour Response boosted my short-game control and allowed me to attack the flag. The Soft Tough Urethane cover gripped into my wedge grooves and sent the ball spinning off the face to land softly on full shots and after a quick hop on chip and pitches.

Driver Ball Speed

Thanks to its high compression core and flexible Speedmantle, the Tour Response provided accelerated ball speed with the big stick. The components maximized my energy transfer at contact, limited spin and preserved pace for a powerful launch and high ball flight.

Aerodynamics

I approved the aerodynamic Tour Flight Dimple pattern, which resisted drag and boosted lift for optimal carry distance. The higher flight further aided my cause on approach, as it boosted the ball’s shot-stopping power to hold tight greens.

Price for a Urethane Ball

Although the Tour Response isn’t the cheapest ball on the market, it’s affordable for a urethane-covered construction. It makes it marginally more affordable for mid-handicappers to acquire and enjoy.

An alternative affordable urethane golf ball to consider is the Cut Blue . As my colleague Brit explains, it doesn’t replace premium urethane golf balls. However, it’s perfect for mid-handicappers seeking tour-like features for the price of a distance ball.

What I Dislike About The TaylorMade Tour Response

Clicky acoustics.

The clicky noise off the putter, irons, and wedge face isn’t my preferred sound. I enjoy a solid sound as the ball leaves the clubface. However, this has no bearing on the performance of the golf ball and it didn’t change my overall opinion.

Distracting Alignment Aid

My second criticism applies only to the Stripe Tour Response balls. When my ball was lying on a slope, the angle of the alignment aid was off-putting. Rick Shiels does an excellent job of highlighting this conundrum in the video below:

Effectively, the Stripe would run diagonally to the flag target line, and this feature messed with my head at address and impact.

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Matt Stevens

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TaylorMade Tour Response 2022 Golf Ball Review

Published: 25 April 2022 Last updated: 02 August 2024

The 2022 TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball is available in three models - white, yellow and striped.

At a glance

• TG Rating 5 out of 5
• Owner Rating Not yet rated

– Superb performance across the board

– Exceptional wedge spin

– Impressively durable

– Premium tech for less money

– Striped model makes alignment so easy

– Low compression won't suit fast swing speeds

TaylorMade Tour Response Golf Ball (2022)

What we say..., taylormade’s second-generation of their hit club golfer tour response ball, includes a new dimple pattern, revolutionary alignment aid and a cast urethane cover..

For years, amateur golfers were starved of credible golf ball options designed specifically for them. Now, average swing speed club golfers now have an abundance of the best golf balls for amateur golfers to choose from with all of the big brands spotting the gap in the market and producing tour ball quality models that are right for everyday players.

For us, TaylorMade’s Tour Response has been the best in this category since its first generation  launched back in January 2020… and now there’s a new and improved version.

If you’re not familiar with the Tour Response, don’t be thinking that it is just a cheaper, lower-performance alternative to TaylorMade’s tour-level  TP5 . It’s most definitely not.

A tour quality ball for non-tour players.

The shift towards more club golfer optimised balls has also seen a rise in models that help with alignment. TaylorMade joined that party with great success when they created the  TP5 Pix in 2019, a ball that provides better feedback on alignment and roll. Now they’re bringing alignment tech into the Tour Response with the addition of  ‘Stripe’.

Let’s take a closer look at the new Tour Response.

RELATED:  Tour Response wins TG Editor’s award

Models  White, Yellow, Stripe |  Cover  Cast Urethane |  Layers Three |  Compression 70

Who is the Tour Response for?

While it has been designed for all club golfers, it’s likely to be adopted with enthusiasm by any golfer who can honestly say, “I’m not good enough to play a tour ball”, “I don’t swing fast enough for a tour ball” or “tour balls are just too expensive for me to play”. From our experience testing the original Tour Response , the model is a very credible alternative to Titleist’s Pro V1 for average speed golfers (that’s 92mph with a driver).

It’s all about the cover

TaylorMade say urethane covered balls are flat-out better performers than ionomer models, and that thinking comes down to how urethane engages more with the grooves of a wedge or iron at impact.  Urethane bites into the grooves, especially around the green, which gives additional spin and control.

Not all urethane covers are equal, though. TaylorMade say the Tour Response is the only sub-£40 ball on the market to have a 100% cast urethane cover, which they argue improves production and performance consistency.

Tour Flight dimples and soft feel

TaylorMade’s TP5 and TP5x balls have Tour Flight dimples and now, so does the Tour Response. By reducing dimple depth but making the bottom area wider, TaylorMade say golfers get reduced drag from launch to peak height, but also more air flowing into each dimple as the ball falls from the sky, which keep shots in the air for longer.

With lots of club golfers loving soft-feeling golf balls, the Tour Response has a 70 compression. TaylorMade say a firmer mantle layer stiffens up performance, so there’s great energy transfer at impact, which prevents the ball losing power through behaving like a marshmallow, which can come from just chasing low compression.

RELATED: Best Golf Balls

360º Clearpath Alignment

Some 40% of the golf balls sold by TaylorMade are now within the “visual space” – that’s anything other than plain white – and it’s a fast-growing area. By 2023 TaylorMade say the figure will be over 50%, which is why their engineers have focused on helping golfers with alignment, feedback, visibility and awareness with the striking new Tour Response Stripe. A 360º stripe around the ball helps visualise the path of putts more easily, and highlights your aim.

RELATED: Best Golf Balls For Beginners

Tested: TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball

Equipment Editor Simon Daddow and Digital Editor Rob Jerram have both been huge fans of the Tour Response since the 2020 original, and it is their ball of choice.

We love how it feels like a ball designed specifically for us. Our data has it down as a cracking across-the-board performer. It was fast with a driver and iron (second in both categories in our club golfer’s ball test), which translates to being our longest 7-iron and third-longest driver ball, so there’s no giving up distance to get wedge spin (which came in just 6% less than a Pro V1 at average swing speeds).

The big decision now is whether or not to try the new Stripe model. We were sceptical about the chunky alignment stripe, but on-course testing highlighted just what the idea brings to the party.

As well as aligning the ball on the green (and seeing its roll), we loved setting it up squarely at the flag on par 3s or the centre cut of the fairway from the tee. Some golfers will love the extra confidence the stripe fosters; for those that don’t the standard Tour Response is a proven performer.

TaylorMade know the Stripe won’t float every golfer’s boat, even though they say it can improve putt alignment consistency by 20%, so there will also be plain white and yellow options.

What TaylorMade say about the Tour Response

“Tour Response already separated itself from the competition with overall materials and performance, but now with Tour Response Stripe it will also give golfers the feedback needed to boost their performance on the greens.

“We have seen many professional and recreational golfers take advantage of Clear Path Alignment in our pix golf balls, and now with the 360° design of Tour Response Stripe, alignment aid gets even easier for the everyday golfer.”

READ NEXT – How does TaylorMade make golf balls?

Product Information

RRP £37.99 per dozen | VIEW UK OFFER | $42.97 per dozen | VIEW US OFFER

Models White, Yellow, Stripe

Cover Cast Urethane

Layers Three

Compression 70

First launched: March 2022

BUY NOW: White   –   Yellow   –   Stripe

Your Reviews

Taylormade balls user reviews.

Taylormade Tour Response Review – Incredible Feel

I put the new Taylormade Tour Response to the test – This ball feels great! And compared to my experience with Taylormade’s first version, the 2022 Tour Response ball gets significantly more spin around the greens.

I’ve hit thousands of golf balls in the simulator, and I recently compared the Tour Response to the TP5 and ProV1. After getting data from the GC3 and playing a round on the course, here is a summary of what I found.

The new Tour Response still feels amazing, very soft feel

The Tour Response gets a little less spin than both the TP5 and ProV1 around the greens

The Tour Response performs extremely similar to the TP5 and ProV1 with Mid-irons and driver

The Tour Response Stripe is nice to putt, but can be odd out on the fairway

Taylormade Tour Response Golf Ball Review

Taylormade released the initial version of the Tour Response in January 2020. Taylormade attempted to put a “tour” level ball into the hands of the everyday golfer.

The design has changed a bit, the 2022 Tour Response has incorporated the same tour flight dimple pattern you’ll find on their premium ball, the TP5. Taylormade claims this has added “next-level aerodynamics…promoting maximum carry distances”.

I put the Taylormade Tour Response head-to-head with the TP5 and ProV1 . Based on the numbers, they do perform very well. They have a softer feel than both the TP5 and ProV1. In terms of distance performance off the tee and on approach shots, they perform nearly identical.

Around the greens, you’ll lose just a little bit of spin with the Tour Response compared to the TP5 and ProV1, but it’s not much of a difference. I noticed the difference in the numbers on the launch monitor, but couldn’t tell out on the course.

If you opt for the Tour Response Stripe model, I liked it for putting . It made it very easy to line up. Most balls with a single line are really hard to get lined up perfectly. This one felt much easier to line up. I didn’t care for it though when hitting it from the fairway . If you are playing it down, the stripe isn’t so subtle and is seldom aligned the way you’d want it.

You’ll have to decide whether it would be a distraction for you or not.

Quick Facts

The Taylormade Tour Response golf balls are made with 3-piece construction and a single piece 100% urethane cover. They are rated by the USGA as low spin with a driver and high spin with short irons. They have a 322 “Tour Flight” dimple pattern and a very soft feel.

You can get the Taylormade Tour Response golf ball in white or yellow. You can choose the Tour Response stripe model, they are available in green or light blue. You can also opt for a multi-color pack which comes with 3 balls each that are green, red, blue, and burgundy.

They are currently rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon from about 1,800 reviews. From those reviews, it is very clear customers appreciate the feel and overall quality of the Tour Response.

Performance:

• Good Distance off the Tee and throughout the bag
• Good greenside spin
• Stripe option can be nice for putting
• You won’t get quite as much spin as other premium golf balls

Who Should Use the Taylormade Tour Response Golf Balls

Due to its higher price point, I would only recommend this golf ball for players with a mid handicap or better. Even mid-handicappers may want to consider other options, however. The Tour Response is on the edge of being considered a “premium ball”, and it is priced accordingly.

It is slightly less expensive than other premium balls, but priced higher than other balls in the mid-range that perform just as well.

Related – Best golf balls for Mid Handicappers

If you are skilled enough to produce spin around the greens and you’re looking for a ball that feels great, I’d say go for it!

I would recommend this ball for players with any swing speed. My testing shows this ball performs well at any swing speed.

The Taylormade Tour Response is featured in my post on the Best Golf Balls for Distance

Taylormade Tour Response vs. TP5 & ProV1

The Tour Response really separates itself with its soft feel. Both the TP5 and ProV1 are considered soft feel golf balls, but compared to the Tour Response, they feel a bit firm.

Highlights of My Best Tee Shots With The Tour Response

This was one of my better tee shots with the Tour Response. 166mph ball speed with a 115mph swing speed and 299 yards carry, I’ll take it all day long on the golf course.

When I took the Tour Speed out to the golf course, I also hit some pretty long drives off the tee. On a short par 4, about 320 yards, I ended up going over the green with roll. I did have a little wind to my back, so that helped a bit, but it was the longest ball I’ve ever hit on that particular hole.

Final Thoughts

The Taylormade Tour Response is one the best feeling golf balls I’ve tested. I was first introduced to them after winning a long drive hole at a local scramble, they were part of the prize pack.

I thought they felt great back then, and my recent testing confirms that. I am not sure I would call them a “Tour ball”, I think any Pro playing a Taylormade golf ball will still opt for the TP5 or TP5x. That being said, for weekend and casual golfers, they will perform well and feel great.

I think they could be priced $5 – $10 cheaper, but if you are partial to Taylormade, it is a great option for a slight discount on the premium end.

Good luck on the golf course, and if you have any questions please feel free to reach out or post them below in the comments.

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Sedgefield Country Club

TaylorMade Tour Response, Soft Response golf balls: What you need to know

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: TaylorMade again targets average golfers with its latest updates to the Tour Response and Soft Response balls. The three-piece Tour Response incorporates the new dimple pattern and cast urethane cover of its tour-played TP5 balls for better flight and higher spin, but it features a softer compression aimed at non-tour-level swings. The low-compression Soft Response, which is a three-piece ball with an ionomer cover, enhances distance and softer feel with its firm mantle beneath a softer but durable cover.

PRICE: Tour Response and Tour Response Stripe, which features a wide aiming line along the circumference of the ball, $40 per dozen. Soft Response, $30 per dozen.

THE DEEP DIVE: Among the endless cycle of deficiencies average golfers face when comparing themselves to tour players is, of course, speed. Speed, or more specifically the lack of it, is a particular problem when it comes to the golf ball because while speed keys distance, it is fundamentally difficult to maximize speed in a golf ball that’s designed for players whose lack of speed leads them to gravitate toward a golf ball with a lower compression.

TaylorMade’s new Tour Response and Soft Response balls, updated for 2022, are going after that need to enhance speed for average golfers by focusing on the smallest and even sometimes unseen elements of the construction of the ball. In simple terms, the Tour Response offers tour-ball-like spin and control through its cast urethane cover with distance-enhancing elements in its dimple pattern, mantle layer and core, while the Soft Response uses the unseen mantle layer in its three-piece construction to energize the company’s softest ball with more resilience for better distance.

The second-generation Tour Response features a 70 compression, among the softest of balls with a multilayer urethane construction. That normally makes it harder for the ball to maximize speed because it lacks the resiliency at impact of a firmer compression ball like those seen in the company’s TP5 and TP5x balls. But the Tour Response borrows the speed-enhancing effects of those ball’s mantle layer to inject more energy into its softer compression.

Called “SpeedMantle,” this element works with the core more efficiently due to a higher flex modulus than previous mantle layers designed for both its predecessor and similar average player “tour” balls like the company’s Project (a) , said Ben Raymond, senior golf ball engineer at TaylorMade. “Aside from being a higher flex modulus, this is also a more resilient material so it retains energy better after impact for higher ball speeds,” he said.

What makes the Tour Response even more effective at giving average golfers the distance their lack of speed can’t naturally provide them is its cover. Specifically, it uses the same sort of dimple design found on the TP5 and TP5x balls . Rather than the typical spherical shaped depressions in the cover, the Tour Response uses a dimple that’s flatter, shallower but with steeper sides. That creates the same volume for better air flow but yields better performance at a broader range of speeds, Raymond said. The key was looking at how the ball moves through the air at everything from 60 miles per hour to north of 160 miles per hour.

“Aero is really all about optimizing lift and drag, and the volume and the depth of your dimple shape are really the main influencers of lift and drag,” he said. “With our spherical dimple before, when you’re changing volume, you’re changing depth and you’re also impacting lift and drag in the same way. So being able to decouple the volume and the depth allowed us to decouple lift and drag and really optimize for each stage of the ball flight.

“When we test this we look at 24 different conditions of speed and spin. When you’re looking at aero you still have to account not just for the initial velocity but the entire range of velocities throughout flight. That’s what we mean when we talk about optimizing lift and drag. It’s not just for one speed, it’s for the entire range of speeds that ball may experience.”

Raymond said while previous patterns were very good with the high speeds right off the face of a tour player’s driver, it’s later, when the ball is moving at the same speed for all players, that the new dimple is most beneficial. “The 'a-ha' moment came when we learned that when the ball peaks in flight and starts to descend there’s an opportunity to manipulate drag and lift in that part of the flight, too,” he said. “We could elevate lift to keep that ball in the air longer.”

That dimple pattern might be noticeable to the average player’s eye, but even more distinct is a version of the Tour Response called Tour Reponse Stripe. It features a wider alignment band in optic yellow that wraps around the entire ball. At 22 millimeters wide it’s more than half the ball’s total surface area.

“This is exciting for us because it gave us a whole new opportunity of creativity around a golf ball,” said Joshua Dipert, director of golf ball research and development. “The fact is you can pick up your ball and align it two or three times every hole, so why wouldn’t we give you some type of feedback or design some way to make that easier or beneficial?

“What we found was this design element not only was more accurate to align, it was quicker too.”

Another kind of quicker was behind the thinking of the Soft Response, which uses an ionomer cover like those found on many low-compression distance balls. The Soft Response features a three-piece construction that allows the ball’s overall softer compression to get distance from a firmer mantle layer between the cover and core, this despite the Soft Response’s 50 compression rating, which is ten points lower than its previous version.

“With the softer two-piece ball you can get your speed through a firmer cover, but we’re able to use a faster, more resilient mantle layer to bump the speed up and still use a softer cover to maintain that feel, and get some better spin around the green as well,” Raymond said. He added that the company’s improved manufacturing processes and equipment allowed them to mix the firmer mantle with the softer elements “to maintain speed at a softer feel.”

The Tour Response (white and yellow) and Tour Response Stripe will retail for $40 per dozen. The Soft Response (white and yellow) will run $30 per dozen.

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TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball review

The new TaylorMade golf ball that does everything you need at a more affordable price...

Fancy saving yourself some dough on what is effectively a softer version of TaylorMade's popular 5-layer TP5 ball? Let us introduce you to the brand's new 3-layer Tour Response. 

Highlighted by a 100% cast urethane cover, TaylorMade Tour Response delivers effortless compression and Tour-quality performance at a more affordable price of £40 per dozen. 

Utilising the same technology that powers the hottest Tour ball in golf (TP5/TP5x), Tour Response relies on Speedmantle with HFMq to produce fast ball speeds. The firmer second layer surrounds the soft inner core and delivers an explosive transfer of energy.

"Urethane is simply the best performing cover material you can use on a golf ball," TaylorMade's director of R&D golf balls Eric Loper tells us. 

"That’s why it’s found on 100% of the balls used on the PGA Tour. It’s that good. We’re bringing that same innovation to our Tour Response line – essentially making a softer version of our TP5/TP5x that utilises multiple Tour technologies."

Ball out the sleeve and in hand, the Tour Response looks and feels every bit like a TP5 or TP5x ball.

The difference, however, is that the 3-layer Tour Response with its 100% urethane cover, has an ultra low 40 compression soft core and a firmer Speedmantle layer that generates increased ball speed and a little more distance. 

This golf ball will not only help you max out your distance on every tee shot out there, but you will also improve your level of backspin with the wedges. 

Control with the irons, certainly when the wind picked up, felt nice enough. The only problem is that when you've used a TP5x in the breeze before, everything else feels like it is playing for second place. 

We are very confident, however, that you could put the Tour Response up against many in the £40 category right now and few (if any) will travel further off the tee or spin more with a wedge. 

The use of cast urethane puts Tour Response a step above other balls in this category and at this price point, as it’s the only non-Tour ball to offer this premium cover from a major manufacturer. It’s a blend of Tour-quality materials with performance specifically engineered to benefit all golfers.

Tour Response is a great golf ball for just about every amateur looking to get the most out of their game. 

If you are a fan of TaylorMade golf balls then we highly recommend you give the Tour Response an outing this summer. We believe that even the most ardent TP5 or TP5x fan might even consider a switch, especially given the slight price drop. 

TP5x will certainly give you much better control with the irons, however, and TP5 will give you that little more workability. 

Tour Response, which is also available in yellow, excels most from the tee with bundles of distance and it spins a load with every wedge in the bag. 

Its alignment aid also adds to its appeal, especially on the greens, and we have found it to be incredibly durable over a couple of rounds now.

TaylorMade's category director of golf balls and accessories, Michael Fox, said: "In this class where performance meets value, why would anyone play an ionomer ball when cast urethane is available? Every manufacturer agrees that it makes a better ball."

We could not agree more with that statement. 

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Taylormade Tour Response Review

As an Amateur Golfer who has to purchase my golf balls I am always on the lookout for a golf ball that will deliver comparable performance to the Tour-quality ball but at an affordable price.

The Taylormade Tour Response has been designed by Taylormade, a leading Golf Ball Manufacturer to provide a tour-level performance at an affordable price.

The Taylormade Tour Response is a three-piece golf ball with a 100% urethane cover. Urethane makes a ball feel soft when striking it and helps with grab and control when it hits the green and is generally used on Tour-quality golf balls that are more expensive.  Cheaper golf balls have ionomer covers that do not feel as soft and do not provide as much control and spin that is required for your short game.

The Tour Response has been designed and manufactured specifically for the amateur, club golfer providing a urethane cover with a soft feel and higher spin rates for good short game control at a lower more affordable price.

Before purchasing the Taylormade Tour Response you should consider the following factors:

• Materials used for construction of the ball.
• Durability – how many rounds can you play with the ball?
• Compression – lower compression will help golfers with average swing speeds to get more ball speed and distance.
• Feel – how does the ball feel on impact.
• Distance and flight Stability.
• Approach spin with fairway irons and wedges
• How does it feel when putting?
• Price – Is it cost-effective and “value for money”.

Taylormade Tour Response Golf Ball

Taylormade tour response vs titleist pro v1 golf balls, features and benefits, taylormade soft response.

The vast majority of amateur club golfers cannot hit the ball as well as a Tournament Professional thus Taylormade developed the Tour Response golf ball after evaluating the feedback from thousands of golfers of all ability levels about the attributes they wanted in a golf ball.

The Tour Response ball provides a more affordable ball than the ball played on professional circuits such as the Taylormade TP5 or TP5x while also including many of their technologies. The ball is thus suitable for the Amateur club player who wants a quality golf ball that will perform well and that he can afford.

The Tour Response ball has three layers consisting of a soft inner Hi-Spring core with an ultra-low compression of 40 that delivers a better and softer feel on impact.  The soft, core is surrounded by a firmer layer “Speedmantle with HFMq”  that allows for rapid transfer of energy resulting in more ball speed and distance. The outer layer consists of a soft, cast 100% urethane cover that allows for better grip and increased spin to stop the ball quicker on the green.

One of the reasons Taylormade developed the Tour Response ball was to offer the average golfer a golf ball that performed better than the majority of cheaper balls on the market that have an ionomer cover and could still perform favorably with the Professional Tournament balls such as the market-leading Titleist Pro V1

In a survey to compare the Tour Response with the Titleist Pro V1, the conclusion was that the Taylor Tour Response is a very good alternative to the Titleist V1 when you take into account the cost and performance of the Tour Response ball.

Materials Used

Urethane covers are the industry standard when it comes to premium performance in golf balls and urethane-covered golf balls are used extensively by tour professionals. The Tour Response golf ball uses the same 100% cast urethane cover that is on the Taylormade Flagship balls the TP5 and TP5x.

The urethane cover gives it a soft almost spongy feel that allows the grooves on your short irons to grip the ball better creating more RPMs of spin for the average club golfer compared to ionomer products allowing you to stop the ball quicker on the greens. It also has a new dimple pattern that promotes increased lift and decreased drag allowing the ball to stay in the air longer.

The Tour Response features a high spring core with 40 compression that allows for a soft feel on impact and extra distance for golfers with a medium to slow clubhead speed.

The soft, core is surrounded by the second firmer layer comprising of Speedmantle with HFMq and this increases speed and distance.

The Tour Response golf ball is very durable with reports received of golfers playing 3 rounds before any marks appeared. If my golfing prowess is taken into account, I am more likely to lose the ball in the rough before I ever need to replace it.

Compression

The Tour Response has a soft central core with a compression of 40 that makes it far easier to compress for golfers with average swing speeds allowing the amateur club golfer to attain more ball speed and distance.

The Feel of the Tour Response

The Tour Response is a very soft-feeling golf ball and you will certainly get the feeling of having compressed the golf ball through impact when using your irons on the fairway.

Distance Achieved and Flight Stability

This golf ball can be hit to distances comparable with the market leaders used by professional golfers. In the comparison survey between the Taylormade Tour Response and the Titleist Pro V1, the test conducted determined that the Titleist Pro V1 was a small distance longer off the tee while the Taylormade Tour Response was considerably longer than the Titleist Pro V1 using a 7-iron.

It is very stable and produces a consistent flight and is easy to control in the wind.

Approach Spin with Fairway Irons.

Although the Tour Response can be hit for long distances, unlike ionomer balls the urethane cover with its soft almost spongy feel  creates more spin on impact meaning your ball will hold on the green. Using a pitching wedge the grooves on the wedge combined with the soft urethane cover will create sufficient spin on the Tour Response to hold the green.

The Tour Response runs true and the ‘Tour Response” alignment aid is functional and can be of help with your putting.

The Taylormade Tour Response has been specifically designed to provide a golf ball comparable with golf balls used by Professional golfers but at a cheaper price to allow the average club golfer to afford to buy these balls without compromising on quality.

Alternatives

The Taylormade Soft Response was launched at the same time as the Taylormade Tour Response and does not have a urethane cover but uses a soft ionomer cover. The cover has shallow U-shaped dimples to increase lift and reduce drag allowing the ball to travel further. It has a low compression of 35 giving this ball a very soft feel.

The SOFT Response is cheaper than the tour Response golf ball and although it is comparable to the Tour Response concerning distance driven the Tour Response offers more spin control on the greens.

The Taylormade Tour Response is very close in performance to the Taylormade Flagship golf balls the TP5 and TP5x and the Titleist Pro V1. If you are looking for a golf ball that provides good distance while holding its line. Has better control especially around the greens in comparison to the majority of mid-priced golf balls at an affordable price, the Taylormade Tour Response is a worthwhile choice.

Nick is the founder of GolfSpan and an avid golfer. He's not quite a pro but has over 15 years of experience playing and coaching golfers worldwide. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience when it comes to choosing the right golf gear and finding the right setup for your game.

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OneDrive Personal folder response fault

OneDrive Build 24.146.0721.0002 (64-bit)

Windows 10 Pro 22H2 (OS build 19045.4717)

HP 250 G5 Notebook, 16Gb RAM

02 August 2024

About a week ago, my OneDrive Personal 1Tb storage started to exhibit extreme delays in response in Explorer folders, always 1-2 minutes each time, sometimes longer, even when OneDrive sync has been paused or is not running. Just one click on a folder or file contained in OneDrive is all it takes to trigger this behaviour. Each step in opening a OneDrive folder or file suffers from similar delays.

For more than 2 years until recently, this behaviour has never been noticed. No error codes have ever been displayed, and Explorer functions are still working as normal on local drives and Apple iCloud storage.

By my own initiative, I have unlinked my OneDrive connection, un-installed OneDrive and re-installed it, and allowed many hours for synchronisation to start to re-establish, but the issue is still evident, as obstructive as ever. Synchronisation appears to carry on as normal, when it is in process.

Thus far, I have not been able to determine whether this behaviour reflects a fault on my PC, or with OneDrive.

Has anyone else noticed a similar problem? Does anyone know how to fix this issue, other than re-installation of OneDrive, which I have found to be ineffectual?

Subscription to OneDrive services is costing me a lot of money, and it is now effectively disrupted, as far as access to files in OneDrive storage from Windows 10 Explorer folders is concerned.

It's just not good enough! Grrr!

***move from Microsoft 365 and Office / OneDrive / For home / Windows**

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Replies (4) 

• Microsoft Agent |

Hello, SamStresa.

Welcome to the Microsoft community.

I'm sorry to learn about the difficulties you're encountering with OneDrive. To tackle and hopefully resolve this issue, I'd like to offer some additional suggestions that could be helpful.

Review Installed Programs: It's possible that other software might be affecting OneDrive's functionality.  - Look for any programs installed recently that could be causing conflicts. - Try disabling or removing any non-essential programs to check if there's an improvement in performance.

It's important to note that OneDrive typically doesn't conflict with File Explorer, especially if it was functioning correctly previously. However, after a sudden issue arose, you've already reset OneDrive, which is good. File Explorer might encounter problems if it's integrated with other cloud services, although this might not be the root cause. Before proceeding, I suggest performing a clean boot of Windows. This process ensures that Windows runs with only essential Microsoft services and kernel, which can help identify and troubleshoot potential interferences. 

For detailed instructions on how to perform a clean boot, please see: Clean boot Windows - Microsoft Support .

Disclaimer : Performing a "clean boot" initiates Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This is useful for determining if a background program is causing issues with your application and isolating the problem source.

Although the "clean boot" process may seem daunting at first, following the steps carefully and in order will simplify the process and assist in resolving your issue.

Feel free to share updates with me on how things are progressing after you've completed the aforementioned steps.

Best Regards,

Hannah.Z- MSFT |Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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HI Hannah.Z,

Thanks for the helpful advice you have offered, which I will try when I am confident that no harm will come to my system

The procedure for a 'clean boot' seems to be quite well documented, but what it doesn't cover is what to do when the clean boot is finished with.

Is it advisable, necessary even, to reset the disabled startup apps back to enabled before shutting down and restarting, or should that happen automatically at restart? Theoretically that may be true, but in my extended experience with IT systems, there may be little flags buried in the software that could defeat that unintentionally.

Please understand my caution; I have worked with Microsoft products since it was clunky old DOS, before being GUI-fied in the 80's, and since with other more powerful operating systems - VMS & Unix - and I have learned, sometimes the hardest way, that in this field one should trust nothing that one isn't absolutely confident of. I suspect that's true of most things in life.

David (aka Sam)

Hello, SamStresa Thanks for your updates.

Your caution is completely understandable, especially given your extensive experience with various operating systems. After performing a clean boot, it’s important to manually reset the disabled startup apps and services to ensure your system returns to its normal state. Here are the steps to follow:

Open Task Manager:

Press  Ctrl + Shift + Esc  to open Task Manager.

Go to the  Startup  tab.

Re-enable all the items you previously disabled by right-clicking each one and selecting  Enable .

Open System Configuration (msconfig):

Press . Win + R , type  msconfig , and press Enter

Go to the  Services  tab.

Check the box for  Hide all Microsoft services .

Click  Enable all  to re-enable all third-party services.

Click  OK  and then  Restart  your computer.

A clean boot does not restore all system applications and services to their original state; instead, it starts them in a clean state. This process can assist in troubleshooting if OneDrive functions correctly within File Explorer. The issue may stem from other software. By placing your PC in this state temporarily, you can observe whether the synchronization operates properly.

If you encounter any issues or need further assistance, feel free to reach out. I’m here to help!

Sorry the first reply didn't help you, you clicked no help. Is your problem solved? If not, you can try the following:

1. create a new OneDrive directory on another disk and test the issue.

If your OneDrive directory is in the C drive directory, you can try to test it in D drive. Here are the steps:

Right-click on the OneDrive icon in the taskbar.

Select "Pause Sync".

Right-click on the OneDrive icon and select "Close OneDrive".

In File Explorer, copy all files from the OneDrive folder on drive C to a new location on drive D.

Open the OneDrive app.

Sign in and select Change Location.

Select the new folder on your D drive.

After you complete the setup, OneDrive will begin synchronizing files in the new location.

Make sure to back up important data before moving files to prevent data loss.

Temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall to see if there is any improvement.

Disclaimer: Temporarily turn off antivirus protection. However, keep in mind that if you do so, your device may be vulnerable to threats. So please turn it on immediately once issue fixed.

Try to rebuild the file index.

Press Win + R, type control, and press Enter.

Select "Indexing Options":

If you can't find it, make sure the view is set to "Large Icons" or "Small Icons".

Rebuild the index:

Click on the Advanced button.

In the Troubleshooting section, click the Rebuild button.

Confirm and wait for the index rebuild to complete.

Rebuilding the indexes may take some time, depending on the number of files and computer performance.

I look forward to your feedback.

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Trump holds a rambling news conference while Harris and Walz make stops on debut tour

Danielle Kurtzleben

Leila Fadel

Former President Donald Trump gave a rambling news conference Thursday — the first since Vice President Kamala Harris announced her running mate.

Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Fact check on Algerian fighter Imane Khelif, DSDs, biology and Olympic boxing

Despite outcries from anti-trans celebrities and politicians, the International Olympic Committee confirmed Imane Khelif is eligible to compete in women's boxing at the Paris Games.

Khelif went viral on social media after winning her opening bout Thursday against Italy's Angela Carini , who stopped fighting after 46 seconds. Khelif, along with Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting , were both disqualified from their championships in 2023 after the International Boxing Association said they failed gender eligibility testing, a move that the IOC has called a “ sudden and arbitrary decision ."

The two boxers also competed in the 2021 Tokyo Games, but did not medal.

"The IOC is committed to protecting the human rights of all athletes participating in the Olympic Games," the organization said in a statement . "The IOC is saddened by the abuse that the two athletes are currently receiving."

More: As gender eligibility issue unfolds, Olympic boxer Lin Yu-Ting dominates fight

2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.

Fact check: Imane Khelif is a woman

Khelif is a woman, who is not transgender, nor identifies as intersex, according to GLAAD and InterACT.

Khelif reportedly has differences of sexual development, known as DSDs, the organizations said in a Fact Sheet released Friday. Having DSD is not the same as being transgender.

What is DSDs?

Differences in sex development is a set of rare conditions involving genes, hormones and reproductive organs that can cause the sexual development of a person to be different than others, according to the NHS.

Sometimes, this can lead to a person having XY chromosomes but develop otherwise female.

Paris Games has full gender parity, IBA stripped of its governing rights

The IBA, long mired with scandal and controversy, oversaw Olympic boxing before being stripped of its right before the Tokyo Games and is no longer recognized of the international federation of boxing.

In the face of backlash over Khelif's 2024 win, the IBA stood by its decision to disqualify the boxers over two "trustworthy" and "independent" tests, though they did not disclose what the tests were. The Washington Post reported IBA president claimed they were disqualified over finding XY chromosomes.

The IOC said the gender and age for the athletes is based on their passports.

The Paris Games is the first in history to reach gender parity. Transgender inclusion has had no negative effect on gender parity at the Olympics, according to GLAAD and InterACT. Also, IOC guidelines state athletes should not be excluded from competing due to alleged unfair advantage based on sex variations, according to GLAAD.

Conservatives seize on boxing to spread anti-trans rhetoric

As part of a large wave of anti-LGBTQ laws in the U.S., transgender women in sports has become a key rallying call for conservatives. In the last five years, 25 states have passed laws banning transgender students from participating in sports that match their gender identity, according to data compiled by MAP , despite research from the Human Rights Campaign showing transgender youth are a small part of the population and not all of them are interested in playing sports.

Former President Donald Trump jumped on Khelif's win at the Olympics to further his campaign promise, posting a video of the fight on social media "I WILL KEEP MEN OUT OF WOMEN'S SPORTS!"

Trump's running mate JD Vance shared a video of the match on X, falsely calling Khelif a man and suggesting Kamala Harris' stance on gender leads to a "disgusting," outcome.

“From my point of view, this was not an equal competition,” conservative Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, according to POLITICO.

Khelif told UNICEF earlier this year that she was picked-on for participating in sports as a girl growing up, and had to raise money for her boxing lessons as her father did not approve of her getting into the sport, because she is a girl.

“I started with nothing and now I have everything,” she said.

Contributing: Josh Peter

Backpacking for Beginners: A Guide on the Great Outdoors

C amping in the wilderness is an incredible experience that exposes you to the beauty of wildlife and pristine landscapes. It has a history in the United States dating to the 1860s , and the draw of wilderness survival is growing as technology expands. Hitting the trail with your essentials in tow is one of the most freeing experiences you can have.

Investing in the best backpacking gear and exploring trail systems is an excellent foundation for future trips. Still, there’s much to learn and consider when learning the basics of backpacking for beginners. Minor mistakes can turn into severe situations when exploring remote hiking trails.

Fortunately, you’ve discovered the best guide to backpacking tips and tricks to make your next adventure a rousing success. Continue reading to forge a deeper connection with nature today!

Test Gear at Home

The worst place to test your backpacking gear is on the trail in the middle of a trip. Preparation is vital when heading into nature, and your home is the perfect testing ground to become familiar with your backpacking equipment. Attempting to learn how to set up your tent in the middle of a downpour is a recipe for frustration and disaster.

Speak with experienced backpackers, and many will tell you horror stories from their early backpacking experiences. Explore your gear to be prepared when hitting the trail systems. You’ll enjoy a better backpacking experience while remaining safe from start to finish.

Check the Weather

It’s also wise to check the weather forecast for the area you plan to camp and hike in. Backpacking in the mountains is dangerous due to rapid changes in weather conditions. Check the night before your trip and again when you wake up.

Cancelling your backpacking trip is the responsible decision if the weather forecast looks bleak. The weather can change from sunny and blue skies to severe thunderstorms in the blink of an eye.

Checking the trail conditions is also beneficial before embarking on your next adventure. Contact the local ranger station to get more information before heading out.

Storms and precipitation can alter the trails you plan to hike and create dangerous conditions. Ensure you have the proper gear for a safe backpacking trip if trails are covered in snow or ice. Wearing mens compression socks is also beneficial to keep your feet warm and allow for ample blood flow.

Know the Local Wildlife

You’re likely to see and encounter wildlife when planning a backpacking trip. While most animals in nature aren’t dangerous or harmful, looking at the local ecosystems and animals living in the area you’re exploring is helpful. Knowing about your temporary neighbors can keep you safe and ensure peace of mind during the trip.

The first thing to check is the presence of bears. Black, brown, and grizzly bears are dangerous mammals, so avoiding their territory during mating and birthing season is best. Bring bear spray and a food storage solution if you plan a backpacking trip in Bear Country.

Knowing the snakes native to the area is also wise. Venomous snakes can turn a memorable backpacking trip into a nightmare with one bite. Research the types of snakes and their markings to ensure your well-being during your next backpacking adventure.

Account for Elevation

Planning for elevation doesn’t apply exclusively to mountainous regions for backpacking trips. Distance is a vital factor to consider when planning an adventure, but the elevation gains will take a greater toll on your body and mind. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can handle more miles than you have in the tank.

Backpacking mileage and elevation is different from a day hike. You’re carrying dozens of pounds on your back, so stay conservative with your ability to cover ground when carrying your backpacking gear. Consider doing a test run by taking your gear for a day hike to find your range.

Account for mileage and elevation when exploring hiking trails with friends and family. A 12-mile trail with 8,000 feet of elevation gain will push most backpackers to their limits. It’s not impossible, but preparing for the effort involved when planning a massive backpacking trip is best.

Pack Wisely

Each item you pack is something you’ll need to tote around for your backpacking trip. Plan accordingly, and eliminate any backpacking gear that isn’t essential for your trip. The pounds add up in a hurry when you’re packing.

A test run trip is ideal because it will show you the items you need and the ones you can leave at home. Bring enough warm clothing to prevent hypothermia, and find space to pack wilderness survival gear in case your adventure goes sideways.

Packing is the most essential skill to learn before hitting the trail systems. It will save you time, frustration, and your health. It’s a good rule of thumb to take notes of each item you’re bringing to have a record of the essentials.

Layer Your Clothing

Backpacking is best when done with a minimalist attitude. Minimalism is best when you have the proper backpacking gear. Layer your clothing and bring the essentials, like rain gear and an extra outer layer. Leave cotton t-shirts and jeans at home when hitting your favorite hiking trails.

The best clothes serve multiple functions to save weight. Versatility is the name of the game when picking the clothes to bring for your upcoming backpacking trip.

Use the weather forecast and climate to determine the clothes you want to take. Account for daylight and night temperatures to ensure a safe camping experience. It’s an effective way to bring the necessary clothes without overloading your pack.

Learn the Basics of Backpacking for Beginners Today

Learning the best tips for backpacking for beginners is an excellent way to prepare for your first (or next) adventure in nature. Check the weather and find hiking trails within your capabilities.

Research the wildlife in the area you’re camping in and bring the wilderness survival gear you need for safety and peace of mind. Pack wisely, and layer your clothing to stay safe and limit weight.

Camping and spending time in nature is a rewarding experience and an excellent way to make memories. Check out our Sports and Recreation content to find exciting outdoor activities today!

This article is published by NYTech in collaboration with Syndication Cloud.

TaylorMade Tour Response vs TaylorMade TP5

Tested: TaylorMade Tour Response vs TP5

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Ball Flight

Which ball should you choose.

The Tour Response ball is great for those who have a faster-than-average swing speed and want good control around the greens too.

• Great all-round feel
• Distance off the tee
• More affordable price
• Slightly quicker swing speed needed

A virtually faultless ball in every area of performance, especially for those who play a lot of competitive golf. The feel leaves a lasting impression.

• Amazing feel on all shots
• Used out on Tour
• Boosted aerodynamics
• Lower launching ball flight with irons

TaylorMade Tour Response vs TaylorMade  TP5

In this review of the TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball and the TaylorMade TP5 , we compare two golf balls TaylorMade markets as offering tour standard performance.

This is an interesting match-up because TaylorMade created the great-value Tour Response ball in a bid to prise away golfers from buying the most expensive premium balls commonly used on professional tours, like the TP5.

The TP5 and TP5 X have been a revelation in professional golf since launching in 2017 and have been played by the biggest names in the game across TaylorMade’s equipment staff roster. This profile has helped TaylorMade win a significant share of the consumer golf ball market, mainly on the back of introducing the first-ever five-layer tour ball.

The Tour Response is designed to be an affordable alternative that appeals to a wider cross section of golfers. It’s a three-piece ball with a 100% urethane cover – the gold standard material for tour level golf balls – and is designed to offer equivalent performance to the best golf balls .

We tested both balls on the golf course and on a launch monitor to see how they compared.

Unbox these balls and first glance you might struggle to tell them apart. Both have 322 dimples, both have a premium urethane cover and both have a neat alignment arrow – split by the ball name - that is useful for lining up tee-shots and putts.

Tour Response has a deep red number while numbers on the TP5 are black. A closer look reveals that the difference is in the dimples. The 2021 TP5 ball has been reengineered with a seamless Tour Flight Dimple that is larger, wider and designed to improve the ball aerodynamics and extend its carry through the air.

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TaylorMade Tour Response is a low compression ball, measured around 70 compression, so you’d expect it to fell softer compared to the TP5 which is an 85 compression ball.

It was difficult to tell which had the softer feel in testing. Both are excellent on well struck shots but on off centre contact the Tour Response feels firm, solid, even a touch dull.

The TP5 does feel firm for a premium tour ball which could be explained by its five-piece construction. It has a soft cast urethane cover and a firm inner cover protecting a larger more reactive core. In between, you have TaylorMade’s Speed Layer system of increasingly stiffer layers, so what you get is more ball speed and a spring like effect off the face.

The Tour Response also feels firm but springy. There’s an obvious energy transfer as the ball zips off the face. TaylorMade call this its ‘hi-spring core’ and they’ve coupled it with a thinner HMFq SPEEDMANTLE™ for advanced ball speed. As good as it is, the 5-layer ball simply feels better and more explosive than its 3-piece rival.

In long game testing, the TaylorMade Tour Response gave a good showing vs TP5 but simply couldn’t match the performance of the more expensive ball in windy conditions.

The TaylorMade TP5 seems to fly like a piece of rope in the wind on good shots. It holds it line so well and noticeably better than other tour balls I’ve tested and played.

On the course, both balls launched well and reached a healthy peak height that meant shots held the greens well.

With shorter irons, I found the TP5 launched lower and span more, a great combination for attacking flags with wedge. Tour Response was also low-mid launch on pitches and wedge shots and impressive in its own right, with plenty of hop and stop check.

On mid to long iron shots, both balls had the stable flight you expect from the best TaylorMade golf balls but TP5 had a better peak height on launch monitor testing, was longer and had a better angle of descent – meaning it stops quicker and will spin more when it hits the green.

The Tour Response is a good all-rounder and performed well on the course on a breezy day but launch monitor testing revealed it fell short of TP5 performance in terms of distance and spin rates.

TaylorMade Tour Response 

In a comparative test of 10 seven-iron shots, the spin rate on the Tour Response often hit 7500 rpm plus whereas the TP5 span less, averaging around 6850 rpm of backspin. This tallied with TaylorMade’s new Tour Flight Dimple technology, which aims to launch it higher, spin it less and carry it further. Well struck shots with TP5 were consistently longer than with Tour Response but the cheaper ball was no slouch.

Ball speed was consistently between 117 and 120mph and the shots were grouped in a range of 170 to 176 yards for Tour Response.

On the course, my driver had good launch and a lower spinning, flatter flight with the TP5 which cut through the wind. The Tour Response launched higher, flew higher and span more – the result being that the drives I hit with the TP5 were often 5 to 10 yards longer.

Good control of ball flight is one of the stand out benefits of these TaylorMade tour quality golf balls. Stability of flight, from driver to wedge, is the defining characteristic for both models – with TP5 the stronger option of the two.

Compared to the best premium golf balls both the TaylorMade Tour Response and the TP5 feel firm on contact but they are soft enough for any standard of player and make up for firmness with high wedge spin, hop-and-stop control and good explosive feel on long and mid-iron shots.

I found the TP5 offered more short game control but it wasn’t easy to tell them apart when putting, both are firm off the face but roll well and held the green surface nicely.

The TP5 offered more control with driver thanks to its lower spinning flatter flight, ideal for playing in the wind and getting valuable run out on drier fairways in the Summer months.

Choose the TaylorMade Tour Response if... - You want a cheaper alternative to premium tour balls - You want higher launch, consistent distance and stable flight in the long game - You prefer a firmer feel green side

Choose the TP5 if… - You want to hit more penetrating drives - Like to attack flags with low flighted pitches that hop-and-stop - You play in windy conditions and need enhanced flight control

If you choose to buy, check out our helpful TaylorMade discount codes . 

Matthew Moore fell in love with golf hitting an old 3-iron around his school playing field imagining rugby posts were flags and long jump pits as bunkers.

He earned golf scholarships to the University of St Andrews and Emory University, Atlanta, U.S.A and dreamed of playing professionally before training as a journalist.

He has worked at Golf Monthly and CNN Sports as well as covering golf news, features, products and travel as a freelance writer and TV presenter for newspapers, magazines and corporate clients. Matthew has interviewed Ryder Cup Captains, Major Champions and legends of the game and rates sharing a glass of rioja and a bowl of nuts with Miguel Angel Jimenez as his favourite moment. Matthew plays off 1, has won five club championships and aced the first hole of Augusta National’s Par-3 course in 2002.

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Olympic swimmer warns Paris officials to 'wake up and do your job' as he slams 'cheating' athletes

Chinese olympic swimmer qin haiyang has hit back after team gb's adam peaty appeared to target him in bombshell comments.

Gerrard Kaonga

Team GB's Adam Peaty has aimed savage comments at Paris Olympics officials, making bombshell claims about 'cheating' athletes.

British swimmer Adam Peaty appears to have questioned China ’s victory in the men's 4x100 meter medley relay and really spoke his mind about whether he'll be back at the Olympics .

Qin Haiyang and Sun Jiajun, two members of the gold medal winning squad, were among 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine prior to the Tokyo Olympics, according to an investigation by the New York Times.

The swimmers were cleared to compete with the belief being they had unknowingly ingested the drug via contaminated food.

Peaty, who raced alongside his teammates Oliver Morgan, Duncan Scott and Matt Richards, finished outside of the podium and placed fourth.

He has insisted his frustrations with the event isn’t bitterness at the result and also seemed to reference allegations that Qin tested positive for a different performance-enhancing drug in 2017, which was blamed on food contamination as well.

He called on the Olympic officials to do their job to ensure absolutely no cheating of any kind was taking place.

Peaty said: "If you touch and you know that you're cheating, you're not winning. For me, if you've been on that and you have been ‘contaminated’ twice, I think as an honorable person you should be out of the sport."

The British swimmer did not confirm whether this would be his last Olympics and said he would be taking time away from the sport after Paris.

However, he did say that the GB team will use these Olympics as fuel for the next one.

He continued: “We'll use it to our advantage for the next four years, whether I'm there or not.

“I know these boys will carry that and we'll see how they do in four years' time.”

He closed by saying: “But I think to the people that need to do their job - wake up and do your job. I think we have to have faith in the system. But we also don't. I think it's got to be stricter.”

For his part, Qin appeared to hit back at Peaty in an Instagram post.

He shared a picture of the 4x100m relay team with the caption: "We did it! Olympic champion! Any doubt is just a joke. Stress will only make us stronger."

UNILAD has contacted the Chinese Olympic Committee for comment.

Team USA's current medal count - 79

Gold medalists.

• Lee Kiefer: Fencing - Women's individual foil
• Torri Huske: Swimming - Women's 100m butterfly
• Jack Alexj, Chris Guiliano, Hunter Armstrong, Caeleb Dressel, Ryan Held, Matt King: Swimming - Men's 4x100m freestyle
• Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, Hezly Rivera: Artistic Gymnastics - Women's team competition
• Katie Ledecky: Swimming - Women's 1500m freestyle
• Nick Mead, Justin Best, Michael Grady and Liam Corrigan: Rowing - Men's coxless four
• Jacqueline Dubrovich, Lee Kiefer, Lauren Scruggs, Maia Mei Weintraub - Fencing: Women's foil team
• Simone Biles: Artistic Gymnastics - Women's individual all-around
• Kate Douglass: Swimming - Women's 200m breaststroke
• Simone Biles: Artistic Gymnastics - Women's vault
• Vincent Hancock: Shooting - Men's skeet
• Ryan Crouser: Athletics - Men's shot put
• Katie Ledecky: Swimming - Women's 800m freestyle
• Nic Fink, Torri Huske, Ryan Murphy, Gretchen Walsh: Swimming - Mixed 4x100m medley relay
• Bobby Finke: Swimming - Men's 1500m freestyle
• Kristen Faulkner: Cycling - Women's road race
• Scottie Scheffler: Golf - Men's individual stroke play
• Noah Lyles: Athletics - Men's 100m
• Regan Smith, Lilly King, Gretchen Walsh and Torri Huske: Swimming - Women's 4x100m medley relay
• Valarie Allman: Athletics - Women's discus throw
• Caroline Marks: Surfing - Women's Shortboard

Silver medalists

• Nic Fink: Swimming - Men's 100m breaststroke
• Lauren Scruggs: Fencing - Women's individual foil
• Gretchen Walsh: Swimming - Women's 100m butterfly
• Haley Batten: Mountain Bike - Women's cross country
• Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh. Torri Huske, Simone Manuel, Erika Connolly, Abbey Weitzel: Swimming - Women's 4x100m freestyle
• Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook: Diving - Women's springboard 3m synchronised
• Katie Grimes: Swimming - Women's 400m individual medley
• Jagger Eaton: Skateboarding - Men's street
• Regan Smith: Swimming - Women's 100m backstroke
• Bobby Finke: Swimming - Men's 800m freestyle
• Carson Foster, Brooks Curry, Chris Guiliano, Luke Hobson, Drew Kibler, Blake Pieroni, Kieran Smith: Swimming - Men, 4x200m freestyle
• Perris Benegas: Cycling - Women's BMX freestyle
• Torri Huske: Swimming - Women's 100m freestyle
• Regan Smith: Swimming - Women's 200m butterfly
• Erin Gemell, Katie Ledecky, Paige Madden, Simone Manuel, Anna Peplowski, Alex Shackell, Claire Weinstein: Swimming - Women's 4x200m freestyle
• Karl Cook, Laura Kraut, McLain Ward: Equestrian - Jumping team
• Sagen Maddalena: Shooting - Women, 50m rifle 3 positions
• Regan Smith: Swimming - Women's 200m backstroke
• Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram: Tennis - Men's doubles
• Conner Prince: Shooting - Men's skeet
• Joe Kovacs: Athletics - Men's shot put
• Kaylyn Brown, Bryce Deadmon, Shamier Little, Vernon Norwood: Athletics - 4x400m relay mixed
• Sha'Carri Richardson: Athletics - Women's 100m
• Kate Douglass: Swimming - Women's 200m individual medley
• Brady Ellison: Archery: Men's individual
• Hunter Armstrong, Caeleb Dressel, Nic Fink, Ryan Murphy: Swimming - Men's 4x100m medley relay
• Seth Rider, Taylor Spivey, Morgan Pearson and Taylor Knibb: Triathlon - Mixed relay
• Simone Biles: Artistic Gymnastics - Women's floor exercise
• Sam Kendricks: Athletics - Men's pole vault
• Vincent Hancock and Jewell Austen Smith: Shooting - Mixed team skeet

Bronze medalists

• Carson Foster: Swimming - Men's 400m individual medley
• Katie Ledecky: Swimming - Women's 400m freestyle
• Chloe Dygert: Cycling - Women's individual time trial
• Frederick Richard, Brody Malone, Stephen Nedoroscik, Paul Juda, Asher Hong: Artistic Gymnastics - Men's team competition
• Nick Itkin: Fencing - Men's foil individual
• Emma Weyant: Swimming - Women's 400m individual medley
• Ryan Murphy: Swimming - Men's 100m backstroke
• Luke Hobson: Swimming - Men's 200m freestyle
• Nyjah Huston: Skateboarding - Men's street
• Ilona Maher, Kayla Canett, Lauren Doyle, Alev Kelter, Kristi Kirshe, Sarah Levy, Alena Olsen, Ariana Ramsey, Steph Rovetti, Alex Sedrick, Sammy Sullivan, Naya Tapper: Rugby 7s - Women's team competition
• Katharine Berkoff: Swimming - Women's 100m backstroke
• Evy Leibfarth: Canoe slalom - Women's Canoe Single
• Suni Lee: Artistic Gymnastics - Women's individual all-around
• Casey Kaufhold, Brady Ellison: Archery - Mixed Team
• Grant Fisher: Athletics - Men's 10,000m
• Ian Barrows and Hans Henken: Sailing - Men's skiff
• Henry Hollingsworth, Nick Rusher, Christian Tabash, Clark Dean, Chris Carlson, Peter Chatain, Evan Olson, Pieter Quinton: Rowing - Men's eight
• Stephen Nedoroscik: Gymnastics - Men's pommel horse
• Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul: Tennis - Men's doubles
• Jade Carey: Artistic Gymnastics - Women's vault
• Jasmine Moore: Athletics - Women's triple jump
• Melissa Jefferson: Athletics - Women's 100m
• Paige Madden: Swimming - Women's 800m freestyle
• Suni Lee: Artistic Gymnastics - Women's uneven bars
• Austen Jewell Smith: Shooting - Women's skeet
• Fred Kerley: Athletics - Men's 100m
• Jordan Chiles: Artistic Gymnastics - Women's floor exercise
• Cierra Burdick, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, Hailey van Lith: 3x3 basketball - Women's competition

Topics:  Olympics , China , Sport

Gerrard is a Journalist at UNILAD and has dived headfirst into covering everything from breaking global stories to trending entertainment news. He has a bachelors in English Literature from Brunel University and has written across a number of different national and international publications. Most notably the Financial Times, Daily Express, Evening Standard and Newsweek.

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